The roots of our qurbani spring from this ultimate test which Ibraheem (alaihis-salaam) had to undergo. It is therefore quite appropriate that the entire story of this historic and momentous episode be related in full, so that muslims can thoroughly understand and appreciate the nature of qurbani.

The story of this great sacrifice is mentioned by Allah in Surah Saaffaat, verses 99 to 107. These verses from Surah Saaffaat will be cited as we go along. Other details will be filled in from authentic sources of Tafseer and history.

When Hazrat Ibraheem (alaihis-salaam) began preaching the Oneness of Allah, and exhorting his people to refrain from idol-worship, he suddenly found himself the target of enmity and hatred. His own family and relatives had turned against him.

This animosity directed at the Khaleelullah (friend of Allah) resulted in his tribe forging a plan to destroy this great Rasool of Allah and once and for all rid themselves of his tableeg (preaching). Ibraheem was caught and flung into a huge fire which they had prepared. Allah, through His Awesome Power, commanded the fire "to become a means of peace and coolness for Ibraheem". He was thus saved from death. Despite observing this clear miracle of Ibraheem, his people had become so blind to the truth that their opposition and hatred only increased. Hazrat Ibraheem then took an important decision, which Allah describes in the following words:

The phrase "going to My Lord" meant 'leaving this land of kufr and shirk and emigrating to a place where I can worship My Creator without any hindrance or fear.' Consequently, upon the orders of Allah, Hazrat Ibraheem left Iraq (where he began his mission of Prophethood) and travelled to Palestine. With him on this trip were his wife Sarah, and his nephew Hazrat Loot (alaihis-salaam). At that time Ibraheem had no children, hence he made a dua to Allah, which is described in the next verse:

In the above verse Allah indicated to Ibraheem that the son promised him will be imbued with tolerance unparalleled in the annals of history. Indeed, this will be proven beyond any shadow of doubt as the story unfolds.

Hazrat Ibraheem's second wife, Haajara (also pronounced Haajar or Aajar) bore him a son which he named Isma'eel. This lady was a bondwoman presented as a gift by the King of Egypt to Hazrat Sarah, the first wife of Ibraheem (alaihis-salaam). When Sarah could not bear any children, she gave this bondwoman, Haajara to Hazrat Ibraheem. He married her and she conceived Isma'eel (alaihis-salaam).

Now came the first of several difficult and exacting trials set out by Almighty Allah to test this newly formed family of three. Hazrat Ibraheem (alaihis-salaam) was ordered by Allah to travel to the land of Arabia with his wife Haajar and their baby Isma'eel. Leaving Sarah (alaihas-salaam) in Palestine, he set of towards Arabia and arrived at the ruins of what was once The Holy Ka'ba.

After a few days Hazrat Ibraheem was instructed by Allah to leave his wife and babe in the wilderness of Arabia and return to Palestine.

This command was also executed by Hazrat Ibraheem, with the total compliance of his wife Haajar.

Then follows the famous story of the well of zamzam and how Allah provided for Hazrat Haajar (alaihas-salaam) and her baby. The nature of this treatise does not allow for a detailed account of this particular story.

Nonetheless, Hazrat Isma'eel grew up in this wilderness and desert, in the vicinity of The Ka'ba Shareef.

Allah states in verse 102 of Surah Saaffaat:

The 'age of work' means the age when Isma'eel was able to help his father in carrying out daily chores and errands. The Mufassireen say that Isma'eel (alaihis salaam) was thirteen years of age when this happened.

For three consecutive nights Ibraheem had seen himself in a dream, sacrificing his son Isma'eel. What makes this event so remarkable is that Hazrat Ibraheem had received no clear-cut command from Allah telling him to slaughter his son. But, since the dreams of The Ambiya (alaihimus salaam) are also wahi or revelation, he knew that this was an indirect order from Allah, and this makes the trial all the more momentous. This was indeed the ultimate test for this great man of Allah.

Having thus established that this was an order from Almighty Allah, Hazrat Ibraheem (alaihis salaam) informed his son of this dream to gauge the reaction and response of this little boy. It should be noted here that Hazrat Ibraheem was not consulting his son because of any doubt on the matter. He really wanted to ascertain the attitude of his son towards The Law of Allah, and judge the spirit of sacrifice in this boy, if any. Furthermore, he had to prepare his son's frame of mind for the onerous task which lay ahead.

Isma'eel (alaihis salaam), at the tender age of thirteen, showed great determination and steadfastness. This was his reply, as Allah narrates in the same verse:

If the father's submission to Allah's Order had been amazing, the son's compliance was even more astounding. Undoubtedly, this was not the mind of a mere thirteen year-old, instead it was the mind of one cast in the mould of a Nabi. Moreover, Hazrat Isma'eel does not display confidence in his own resilience and tolerance; he subjects this to the Will of Allah, and he says: "...if Allah so Wills". This was truly a manifestation of the humility and tolerance which Allah had promised in the son of Ibraheem (alaihis salaam).

Having thus acquired the acquiescence of his son, Hazrat Ibraheem set of towards Mina to fulfil this monumental task assigned to him by Allah, without informing Hazrat Haajar of his intentions. Perhaps this great Friend of Allah feared motherly love would come between them and The Law of Allah, and what's more, he was not instructed by Allah to inform Hazrat Haajar (alaihas salaam).

Meanwhile, this entire scene was being witnessed by the avowed enemy of man, Iblees. How could he stand by and allow such a tremendous act of virtue to take place unchallenged?

So he firstly appears before Hazrat Haajar (alaihas-salaam) in human form, asking her where Ibraheem had taken their son. She replies that her husband and son were out collecting firewood (as was their normal practice). It is then that Hazrat Haajar hears, from Iblees, of the intended sacrifice to be carried out by Hazrat Ibraheem. At first she refutes this, arguing that no father would slaughter his only son, whom he loved so greatly.

But when Iblees informs her that Ibraheem is under the conception that this is a command from Allah, Hazrat Haajar puts paid to his evil plans with a most wonderful answer. She says to Iblees:

Having been thus frustrated, Shaytaan hurries after Ibraheem and Isma'eel (alaihimas salaam) both of whom were on there way towards Mina. He approaches the young Isma'eel and attempts to dissuade him from going ahead with this venture. But Hazrat Isma'eel's mind has already been made up, and his heart was set upon fulfilling the order of Allah Azza Wa Jall. Shaytaan again fails to prevent this sacrifice, and receives the same answer from Isma'eel as given by Hazrat Haajar.

Now, in a last ditch effort to foil the plans of this great family he goes to Ibraheem.

He is immediately recognised by Hazrat Ibraheem, and it was here in Mina, at three different places, where seven stones were pelted at the devil by Nabi Ibraheem (alaihis salaam).

Thus originated the pelting of the Jamaraat during Hajj. Today there stands three concrete pillars which mark the places where Hazrat Ibraheem had stoned Shaytaan.

Upon reaching the spot where the sacrifice was to be executed, the following words were spoken by Hazrat Isma'eel to his father:

One does not need an imaginative mind to figure out what went through the heart and mind of Hazrat Ibraheem upon hearing these heart- rendering words from his beloved son. All he could say was:

The scene was now set. Hazrat Ibraheem (alaihis salaam), with moist eyes, ties up his son as requested. According to some reports Hazrat Isma'eel asked his father to blindfold him so that their eyes do not meet at the time of slaughter. Some narrations have it that Hazrat Isma'eel was laid face down at his own request, so that his gaze will not fall on the knife. He also requested his father to remove his kurta (robe) and use it as a kafan after his death.

This glorious submission to the Law of Almighty Allah is described in verse 103:

Hazrat Ibraheem, with a determination unparalleled in the annals of history, began stroking the sharpened knife across the throat of his beloved son. Through a command from Allah the knife was unable to pierce even the skin on the throat of Nabi Isma'eel.

According to some reports a steel plate was placed between the knife and his throat by the angels thus preventing any harm to Hazrat Isma'eel. It was during this crucial stage of the sacrifice that Ibraheem (alaihis salaam) heard the Call from Almighty Allah, as appears in verse 104:

Hazrat Ibraheem turned his heard upwards as this call was made, and then he saw Jibreel (alaihis salaam) standing with a sheep from Jannat, which was to serve as an expiation for Hazrat Isma'eel (alaihis salaam).

It was as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders as Hazrat Ibraheem accepted the animal brought by Jibreel. With Isma'eel now standing at his side, safe and sound, Hazrat Ibraheem sacrificed this sheep for Almighty Allah.

The reward mentioned in this ayat was the sheep which Ibraheem had then sacrificed in place of his son. In this manner Hazrat Ibraheem had fulfilled the order of Allah and passed the supreme test, and at the same time his son was also spared. A befitting climax to this great act of obedience.

It appears in the hadeeth that the sheep which Jibreel had brought was the very one sacrificed by Haabeel, the son of Adam.

This narration has it that when Haabeel's sacrificed sheep was consumed by the fire (as mentioned earlier on) Allah instructed the Angels to resurrect that sheep and rear it in Jannat. It grazed therein for forty years until this historic moment when it once again served the purpose of sacrifice for the sake of Allah.

As an epilogue to this wonderful story, Allah says in verses 105 and 106:

This magnificent act of Ibraheem (alaihis salaam) was so loved by Allah that it became the basis of the Qurbani of the Ummat of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam). When the Sahaaba asked Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam):

His reply was: "It is the Sunnat of your forefather Ibraheem."

Having thus learnt of the wonderful origin of our qurbani, we can easily gauge the enormity and importance of this annual sacrifice. The next time we offer qurbani, let us contemplate, or try to visualise the details of this superb effort on the part of Ibraheem and Isma'eel (alaihimas- salaam). Let us endeavour to offer qurbani with a similar submission and resignation to the Law of Allah. Let our qurbani not be a mere ritual, offered without any feeling or sentiment.

Regarding the origin of animal sacrifice on a general basis,

Almighty Allah states in Surah Hajj:

This ayat clearly indicates that every Ummat in the past was required by Allah to offer sacrifices in the form of animals. It is thus evident that the institution of Qurbani is an age-old manner of obtaining qurbat or nearness unto Almighty Allah, and thawaab for the hereafter.